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Sporadic bombings hit jade mining companies in northern Myanmar

Xinhua, January 26, 2015 Adjust font size:

A series of sporadic bomb attacks targeting jade mining companies occurred at the mining area of Phakant in Myanmar's northernmost Kachin state over the past three days, local media reported Monday.

Bombed by an unidentified group with grenades from motorcycles, the attacks were believed to aim at disrupting the jade mining work of the private companies and destabilizing the region, local police authorities were quoted as saying.

However, except for some minor damage, no casualties have been reported.

The incident followed the end of a four-day fighting between Myanmar government forces and ethnic Kachin Independence Army (KIA) on Jan. 19 with some minor clashes continuing to recur on Jan. 22 in some areas, sources said.

The unstable situation has delayed the re-setting of the date for the 7th round of peace talks between the government's Peace- Making Work Committee and the National Ceasefire Coordination Team (NCCT) of armed groups originally expected within February.

According to official report earlier, about 1,000 villager refugees, evacuated from Aungbarlay and Kansi villages where the prior four-day fighting took place, have returned to their home from temporary shelter following the retreat of the KIA forces on Jan. 19.

Denying the allegation that 2,000 people were trapped amid the fighting, the government side claimed that its troops suffered some casualties, seizing some ammunition, communication equipment and five motorcycles and food during the four-day clash, in which some government outposts were attacked and five bridges were destroyed on Moguang-Phakant road.

The government has charged the KIA with undermining the peace and tranquillity of the region.

The four-day clash, which broke out on Jan. 15 and lasted until Jan. 18, followed the ambush by KIA on a convoy of Kachin state transport minister U Kamann Du Naw a day earlier on a highway in the area.

Although the minister was freed and allowed to proceed after questioning, three police officers who escorted the minister were abducted with arms and ammunition.

The three abducted police officers were later released on Jan. 19 by the KIA and handed over to the government side through peace mediator. Endi